Plug valve



June 4, 1963 H. E. KNAPPE 3,092,365

PLUG VALVE Filed June 25, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. A mm/v K/VAPPE BY }'"Q June 4, 1963 H. E. KNAPPE 3,092,365

PLUG VALVE Filed June 23, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HERMAN E KNAPPE INVENTOR.

8% 6 77M MTDRNLYS H. E. KNAPPE June 4, 1963 PLUG VALVE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 25, 1960 HERMAN E KNAPPE INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,692,365 LU-G VALVE Herman E. Knappe, Qedar Rapids, Iowa, assignor to Cherry-Burrell Corporation, edar Rapids, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Filed lane 23, 1950, Ser. No. 38,339 3 Claims. (Qi- 251-4109} This invention relates to an improvement in plug valves of the sanitary type that must be frequently disassembled for cleaning purposes, and more particularly relates to improvements in such valves in which the plug is rubber covered.

-A valve of the type to which my invention relates is shown in US. Patent No. 2,832,563. The plugs for valves of this type were all originally made entirely of stainless steel, but as disclosed in Patent No. 2,832,563, there are certain advantages from making the plugs with a solid metal core covered by a thin layer of rubber or plastic material. Some of these advantages of a rubbercovered plug are that this construction allows the use of a less expensive metal, such as cast iron, for the plug and eliminates the possibility of damage to the plug that could result in improper seating of the plug in the valve.

These rubber-covered plug valves have proven to be very satisfactory and are widely used in the food and dairy industries. To maintain the high standards of sanitation required by their use in these industries, the valves must be frequently cleaned. Many of the cleaning solutions used have a corrosive effect on metal. Also, these valves are frequently used in processing plants where the humidity is very high, and rust readily forms on the metal core and sometimes bleeds through the rubber covering. Since stainless steel has a high resistance to corrosion, it would greatly improve these rubbercovered plug valves if this material were used for the core. However, stainless steel is relatively expensive and using it for the core material defeats one of the purposes for using a rubber coating on the valve plugs, name- 1y, reduced cost. Since the sale of these valves has become highly competitive, cost has become an incerasingly important factor for successful sales.

It is therefore a principal object of my invention to provide an improved rubber-covered plug valve at a reduced cost.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved rubber-covered plug valve that has all the advantages of known plug valves but is easier and less expensive to manufacture.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an improved plug for a valve that is considerably lighter in weight and therefore easier to handle and less expensive to ship.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a plug for a sanitary valve that is not afiected by strong cleaning solutions or other conditions that promote corrosion.

It is another object of my invention to provide a plug that has a hollow stainless steel core filled and covered by a rubber or plastic material.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a plug valve that is sanitary in all respects, non-toxic, and free from substances that could migrate into the product being processed thereby contaminating it.

These and other objects of my invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

0 FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view of a plug valve of l the type of which my invention relates;

Patented June 4, 1963 FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view showing the core of the plug without the rubber molded thereon;

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the core shown in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the core;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of the plug;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the plug taken on line 66 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing a modification of my invention;

FIGURE 8 is a front elevational view of the core shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a bottom view of the core; and

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken on the line Iii-10 of FIGURE 7.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows a two-way plug valve consisting of a valve body 10 having at least two open ends 12 and 14 that are threaded for connection to pipelines carrying milk or other fluid. For a three-way valve, an additional open end (not shown) can be formed on the valve body 10. A passageway 16 provides for fluid flow through the valve body 10 from end 12 to end 14. Substantially perpendicular to passageway 16 and in the center of the valve body 10 is a large comically-shaped opening 18 that provides a seat for a plug indicated generally by the reference numeral 20. Plug 20 has a passageway 21 extending there-through that is positioned to register with passageway 16 when the plug is turned to the open position, as shown in FIGURE 1.

The plug 20 is comprised of a core 22 upon which there is molded a suitable plastic or rubber material 24. A threaded stud 26 extends downward from the bottom of core 22 along its central axis. The stud 26 projects from a shoulder 28 that has at least one fiat side 29. When the plug 20 is properly seated in seat 18, the stud 26 and part of the shoulder 28 extend beyond the bottom of the valve body 10.

A large washer 30, of at least equal outside diameter to the bottom of the valve body 10, has a central opening 32 slightly larger than shoulder 28; Opening 32 has a flat side corresponding to the flat side 29 of the shoulder 28. Thus, the stud 26 and shoulder 28 can be passed through opening 32: so that the washer 30 will fit tightly against the bottom of the valve body 18 with the flat side 29 of shoulder 28 engaging the flat side of the opening 32. p

A nut 34 is threaded on the stud 26 and when tightened will seat the plug 20 tightly in seat 18 and also prevent fluid pressure from turning the plug 20 thereby changing its position relative to the passageway 16.

Turning of the plug 16 in the valve body 10 is accomplished by means of a handle 36 that is secured to the top of the' core 22. The handle 36 has a rectangularshaped keyway 38 formed in the fastening portion40 thereof, the keyway 38 corresponding to a projection 42 that is either formed integrally with the core 22 or securely fastened thereto. The handle 36 is maintained in position on projection 42by means of a stud 44 threadably received in a threaded opening 46 in the projection 42.

The core 22 is of a frusto-conical shape and is hollow with relatively thin sidewalls 48. Two ribs 50 and 52 extend diametrically across the top of the core 22. The two ribs 50 and 52 are substantially perpendicular to each other and provide a support for the projection 42 to which handle 36 is attached. When the handle is turned to open or close the valve, the-ribs 50 and 52 resist the torsional forces exerted. The bottom of the core 22 is closed except for two holes 56 and 5 8 whose 3 function is to allow air to escape when the rubber matedeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention. It rial 24 is molded onto the core 22. is my intention, however, that such revisions and modi- In order to provide communication between the open fications be included within the scope of the following ends 1 2 and 14 through passageway 16, a portion of the claims. sidewall'48 of core'22 is cut out to form the passageway I claim:

21, The cutout portion leaves two curved surfaces 69 1. In a sanitary plug valve having a main body with a and 62 formed in-the' sidewalls48. frustuna-shaped seat therein and a flow passage extend- Molded onto this hollow core 22 is the covering mateing through said body transversely to said seat, a valve rial 24 which mayfbe rubber,"plastic or other suitable plug adapted to be turnable in said seat, said plug commater'ial. At the present timejwe have found certain rub- 1Q prising a hollow core of rigid, strong material, said core ber compositions to give' themost satisfactory results. including parallel spaced apart end walls joined by a One of these is Buna-N. This material, whether rubber, thin side wall the general exterior configuration of which -plastic 'orsomeother material, of course must be tasteis substantially the same as the plug, a shoulder extendless, odorless, non-toxic,and otherwise suitable for use ing from each of said end walls, rubber-like material with dairyand'food products. 'As best seen in FIGURES 15 covering and filling said core and extending over each 5 and 6, the rubber covering 24 makesup a substantial end wall and surrounding each of said shoulders, a portionof-the plug 20. 'Inother words, the rubber matehandle for turning said plug secured to one of said "rial 24 is more than just'a thin covering over the core shoulders, and plug retaining'means combined With the 22, but the core 22 obviously is necessary to give strength other shoulder, said plug having a passageway adapted to 'the'rnate'rial 24 and' provide a foundation for stud 26 to register with the flow'passage in said valve body when "and projection 42. i said plug is turned to' the open position, the passageway Toimprove the bond between the rubber material 24 extending'completely through one side 'of the plug and i and the c'or22, pockets 64 may be formed near the top defined on one side by thevalve body and on the opposite of-core 22"beneath the projection 42. "Pocket 66 in the 1 side by a central straight portion with diverging side bottom of core'T22 also is for this purpose. 'potrions whereby said plug can be used in both two-way Referring now to FIGURES 7-9, parts corresponding and three-way valvebodies.

'-' to thos e'ofth'e first embodiment'willbe referred to by the 2. In a sanitary plug valve having a main body with Jsame'reference numeral followed by the subscript a. a frustum-shaped seat therein and a flow passageway excore'22a is particularly adapted fonuse'in plug tending through said body transversely to said seat, a *"valves of a larger size than those of the" first embodiment. 30' tapered'valve plug adapted'to be turnable in said seat,

" The core 22:: is of a frustro conical shape and is hollow "said plug comprising a' hollow core of rigid, strong mate- -'-withflrcla'tively-thin side walls "48a. The top 68 of the rial,'said core including parallel spaced-apart circular end co'r 22a= is a solidcircular disc formed integral with the walls joined by a'thin side wall the general exterior cons idewalls 48a. y r figuration of-Which corresponds to the shape of said seat, Arectangular-sliaped projection or boss 42a isfformed a'shoulder extending from' each of said end walls, rub- -*on 'tl 1e top=68 a'nd'has a'th'readed opening"46a. "'The ber likeimate'rial covering and'filling said core and exvalve handle (not shown) fitsfover the boss 42a and is tending over each end wall and surrounding each of said secured to the core 22d by a'stud (not's hown) threaded shoulders toforrn the tapered plug the plug having a 7 *cu'tout portion'providing a port 'therein, the cutout porinto"opening*46a. v l

The bottom 70 of the-eore'zzai is also a solid circular tion extending completely through opposed portions of "disc formed integral "with thesidewalls 48a. A threaded the sidewall between theend walls and having a width stud 26a projects downward from a s'houlder'28rz on "along aline' parallel with the axis of said plug that is the bottoni'70. Sl1'oulder28ahas at'least' one fiat-side "considerably less than the distance between the end walls 29a. y g Y so as to form hollow oppositely facing chambers at said As in the first embodiment, a portion oi the sidewalls -iendwalls and within said core, the rubber-like material 48dof core-22a are 'cut' out to provide for flow through also filling said chambers; the port in the plug being posi- -"fth'e" valve. 'Ihe cutout portion leaves two curved sur- "Itioned to're'gister'with the how passageway in said valve faces 60a 'and"62a' formed; in the sidewalls'48a. body when said plug is seated in said body and turned to For additional' strength, core 22a has a vertical rib 72 the open position, a handle for turning said plug secured along the centerof the" rear portionof sidewall 48a and to one of saidshou'lders, and removable plug retaining a horizontal rib 74 also centrally located. These ribs 72 means "combined with theother shoulder to hold said a'nd74 help to bond the rubber or plastic covering to the plug in its seat in' said valve body. "cor22d. I g 3. In the valve plug of claim 2, strengthening means Plug 20 can b d if; 'i h yi w fh g comprising a first relatively thin rib connecting said end valves. Thus, it is unnecessary to manufacture and Walls about y between the femainiflg P01110I1S -fk'eepon hand more"than"one type plug for both of the S W3 n a'secolld relatlvely thin flb transl th l d 1 verse to said first rib and connecting said remaining Theplug20 is considerably lighter inweight and less Portions of Side Wall about Inldway between the expensive than plugs made-either entirely of stainless end Wallslsteel or ofa metal'core covered with athin coating of rubber. Also, my novel plug has the advantage over Referemes Chad the is of thls patent gthe-thinly covered plugs in that a better bond is obtained UNITED STATES PATENTS between the covering materialand the metal core. Be- 222,727 Peck 16, 1879 19 1- h quantity of metal fi l the p g 2 1S 1 203 75 111 N 7 1915 greatly reduced, the core 22 or 22a can be constructed v2368387 Schuler 6, 1945 1 9 Whlch h -P advantages 2,634,946 I Mueller Apr. 14, 1953 ,SaPItaYY FQ P T 2 P ug; 9 be Place? 111 2,782,801 Ludwig Feb. 26, 1957 strong ns l q wlthout t danger 9 corrqslqn 2,832,563 Walsh 1958 1 I Bt F W- Thls W Q true Where a heavy $011d 2 4 579 s l b D 1 1953 j core of cast iron or aluminum is covered with a thin rub- 2,376,985 Birchan Man 10 1959 "bercoating.

Having" thus-described m invention it will be obvious FOREKBN PATENTS to those skilledin the art that various revisions and modi- 1,064,281 7 France Dec. 23, 1953 *fications 'can be'mad in my novel plug valve without 1,066,393 Germany Oct. 1, 1959 

1. IN A SANITARY PLUG VALVE HAVING A MAIN BODY WITH A FRUSTUM-SHAPED SEAT THEREIN AND A FLOW PASSAGE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BODY TRANSVERSELY TO SAID SEAT, A VALVE PLUG ADAPTED TO BE TURNABLE IN SAID SEAT, SAID PLUG COMPRISING A HOLLOW CORE OF RIGID, STRONG MATERIAL, SAID CORE INCLUDING PARALLEL SPACED APART END WALLS JOINED BY A THIN SIDE WALL THE GENERAL EXTERIOR CONFIGURATION OF WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME AS THE PLUG, A SHOULDER EXTENDING FROM EACH OF SAID END WALLS, RUBBER-LIKE MATERIAL COVERING AND FILLING SAID CORE AND EXTENDING OVER EACH END WALL AND SURROUNDING EACH OF SAID SHOULDERS, A HANDLE FOR TURNING SAID PLUG SECURED TO ONE OF SAID SHOULDERS, AND PLUG RETAINING MEANS COMBINED WITH THE OTHER SHOULDER, SAID PLUG HAVING A PASSAGEWAY ADAPTED TO REGISTER WITH THE FLOW PASSAGE IN SAID VALVE BODY WHEN SAID PLUG IS TURNED TO THE OPEN POSITION, THE PASSAGEWAY EXTENDINBG COMPLETELY THROUGH ONE SIDE OF THE PLUG AND DEFINED ON ONE SIDE BY THE VALVE BODY AND ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE BY A CENTRAL STRAIGHT PORTION WITH DIVERGING SIDE POTRIONS WHEREBY SAID PLUG CAN BE USED IN BOTH TWO-WAY AND THREE-WAY VALVE BODIES. 